Directed & Edited By: Adam Wingard
Written By: Simon Barett
Cinematography By: Chris Hilleke & Mark Shelhorse
Cast: Amy Seimetz, A.J. Bowen, Joe Swanberg, Whitney Moore
An escaped murderer is in pursuit of his ex-girlfriend, who has fled to start a new life in a small town.
This is going to sound weird.This film is oddly personal for me. No i am not a serial killer, but it is a story similar to a project i am writing. Not only that but the ruzzle piecing narrative that is non-linear leaving the audience to figure things out without the hand holding most films give you. Is a style i wanted to use for another project. So this film and it's filmmakers and me seem to have similar ideas. He just beat me to the punch. Though we may have gone about things in a different way when it comes to direction.
I must say at first the film put me off. The shaky camera and angles were getting on my nerves and made me thankfuli didn't see it in theaters but as the film goes on you getusedtoit and hardly notice it. The film is a interesting Genre mix of Mumblecore and Thriller/Horror that actually works. Since it allows us to know the characters involved in the story even somewhat side characters. While providing the violence that the horror genre requires. It just doesn't revel in it. It is more of a artistic Horror film. Then a genre one. I have to admire it. It stands apart in a genre known for creativity.
The film is certainly not a slam dunk it's short and yet it feels longer then it is. This is a film you definately have to have patience with to fully enjoy. I was tempted to quitit quite a few times. I'm glad i stayed for the whole thing.
The film is interested in visuals and trying to give off a gritty grindhouse appearance. The film also seems more interested in characters then plot and development. The title certainly makes it sound like a grindhouse film.
At times like most films the story or at least some moments in it seem ridiculous. You expect that from most films though at this point. This one feels oddly realistic. I applaud the director for not going the usually beautiful actors route. not thatthe actors are unattractive. They look like normal people not movie stars. That is what i think i enjoyed about this film is that it's not really that talky and all of it feels like it could really happen...Almost. AJ bowen who i recognize from many low budget horror films gave me faith in the film. As he plays oine of the leads.
At it's heart, The film is a mumblecore movie as it has fearless actors that are far from recognizable. The conversations sound normal full of not knowing what to say next so it seems almost inprovised. At the core of the film is a love story. There is even a sex scene a very unsexy and humiliating one. That to me is a true interpretation of being intimate with someone new then any hollywood film that bills itself as romantic. Some of the actors are even Mumblecore veterens as one is Joe Swanberg a prolific Mumblecore film director who usually casts himself in his own films. I am a bit of a fan of his work. The director fo this film even appeared in Swanberg's Film AUTOEROTIC. So the two of them working together on this film is like a meeting of the minds. In fact it is what attracted me to this project in the first place.
I know it seems like i love this film, but it's far form perfect but it is something new and different that seems a bit experimental and is also confident enough in itself to try something different and creative. So i give it a lot of respect and it pulls it off. Though it is a much more cerebral enjoyment when it comes to this film.
GRADE: B-
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